Bridle-bit.



No. 860,524. PATENTED JULY 16, 1907.

A. L. GATLIN.

' BRIDLE BIT.

APPLICATION rmnn 01:0. 8, 1906,

am: NbnRls PETERS cm. WAsnlNu'roN. v. c

ARTHUR L. OATLIN, OF ENID, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

BRIDLE-B IT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. July 16, 1907.

Application filed December 8,1906. Serial No. 346,901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. OATLIN, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Enid, in the county of Garfield and Territory of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridle-Bits, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to bridle bits, and has for its object, the production of a bridle bit which will not alone perform the services of the ordinary and well known bit now in use, but which will also actas a snaffle bit and as a check bit by which the horses head can be checked or drawn up to any desired height by the operation of the driving reins manipulated by the driver or rider of the horse.

My invention consists in the provision of a bit having attached to it operating levers attached to a checking bit. said operatinglevers being controlled in their movements through the medium of the driving reins.

My invention still further consists in the provision of a bridle bit having two bit pieces or bars connected together and operated through the medium of the driving reins.

My invention still further consists in the construction combination and operation of parts more fully described hereinafter and specifically pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification: the figure is a perspective view of the improved bit.

Referring to the drawing, 6 designates the bit-bar which is preferably of round cross section and provided with openings at its ends in which are secured the arms 1 that constitute the rein-holders of the bit. These rein-holders are constructed each of a rod bent into a loop and if desired, welded together at the extremities so as to extend into "each opening in the bit-bar 6. Swiveled on the bit-bar 6 adjacent the arms 1 are clips 2 to which the head stalls of the bridle are connected, theclips thus permitting the bit-barto freely turn when the reins are drawn tight or slackened.

The check-bit of the device comprises a U-shaped structure 5 composed of a metal rod or wire of suitable thickness and having its arms 7 bent into hooks or eyes 8. The check-bit 5 is connected with the arms or reinholders 1 by levers or members 9 each of which is provided with eyes 3 and 4 at its ends and an eye 10 at an intermediate point. gage around the upper portions of the looped arms 1 so as to slide freely back and forth thereon. The upper eyes 4 afford means for attachment of the check-bit with the usual check-rein so that the members thus form The eyes 3 of the members 9 en-V check-rein-holdcrs. The eyes 8 of the check-bit 5 are hooked into the eyes 10 of the members 9. By con necting the check-bit in this manner to the rein-holders 9 the check-bit is free to swing or hinge on the latter.

[n using the improved bit the bit-bar 6 and chcckbit 5 are both placed into the mouth of the horse and are held in position by the head-stall straps and checkrein. The rein-holders or arms 1 extend downwardly below the lower lip-of the horse when the reins hang loose, and the eyes 3 of the members 9 are adjacent the lower ends of the arms 1. When the reins are pulled, the arms 1 move upwardly as the bit-bar (i revolves in the clips 2. This movement of the arm 1 causes the eye 3 of the chcck-rein-holdcrs 9 to slide toward the bit-bar thus changing the position of the check-bit 5 so that the horses head is caused to raise. When the reins are slackencd the parts assume their normal position so that the strain is take off the check-bit, whereupon the horse is permitted to lower its head to a natural position.

From the foregoing it will bcsccn that the checking of the horse as well as the guiding of its movements is accomplished by the reins. As long as the reins are loose the horses head is not checked and this adds greatly to the freedom of the horse in traveling up or down hill.

Having thus described my invention, what I. claim as new is:

1. In a bit. the combination of a bitdinr. looped arms thereon, clips in which the bit-bar is free to turn. members siidably connected with the said arms, and a cbcckbit movably connected with the members to be actuatcd by the movement of the said arms.

2. In a bit, the combination of a bitbar, arms thereon for attachment with reins, menus for connecting the bit with a hcadstali, members movably connected at their lower ends with the arms and adapted to'bc connected at their upper ends with a cl\eckrcin, and a check-bit hingedly conncctcd with the said mcmbcrs.

.i. In a bit. the combination of a bitbnr having 0pcn ings at its ends, rcin-holdcrs comprising lonpcd rods cngnging in the openings of the bit-bar, swivclcd clips on the bit-bar, members having terminal and intermediate eyes, the terminal eyes at the lower ends of the members being siidably connected with the rcindioldcrs and the upper terminal eyes constituting means of attachment: with a check-rein, and a check-bit having terminal eyes engaging the intermediate eyes of the said members.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of the two subscribing wit nesses.

ARTIIUR L. CA'LLIN.

Witnesses Nnw'rox Bonwnnn, WILLIAM H. DAY. 

